The upside to this is that you won't have to deal with the hassle of installation, and using satellite Internet receivers is just a matter of keeping everything plugged in.

Basically, this is a simple task: Two coaxial cables run between the dish and the receiver, and an Ethernet or USB cable runs between the receiver and the computer.

If you wish to go wireless, you can also connect Internet receivers to Wi Fi routers.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of working with this type of Internet access doesn't have to do with the satellite Internet receivers per se.

If you have a television reception-only (TVRO) satellite receiver, you need to visit the manufacturer website to update a receiver.

If you have a satellite receiver from Dish Network or DIRECTV, the satellite receiver updates automatically.

If you've got satellite TV, the provider might've given y­ou the option of installing it yourself when you signed up for the service. Often, rules and regulations governing satellite communications prohibit nonprofessionals from installing it.

This also applies to two-way satellite Internet [source: Briere].

The service itself isn't the fastest kind of Internet connection, nor is it the most reliable.

Although satellite Internet might not be as fast as DSL or cable, it's typically faster than dial-up -- that is, when it's working.